MOTIVATING STUDENTS TO LEARN MATH

JANE P. NUCUM

There are various ways to make learning the subject math enjoyable, by developing ideas to motivate students by using interesting activities like discovering, construction, designing, strategy and solving problems, among others. These activities can improve students’ motivation, interest, creativity, inspiration, independence and spirt of learning. Mathematics has twin goas – problem solving and critical thinking. It relies on identifying the learning competencies in the Mathematics K to 10 Curriculum that satisfy the criterion endurance. Pivotal in the learning progression of each child is laying the foundational concepts and skills at each grade level. This will consequently scaffold the learner’s understanding and acquisition of higher skills. The Most Essential Learning Competencies in Math puts premium on the development of numeracy skills, which are fundamental to practical and real-life problems, and on the development of higher-order thinking skills which goes beyond procedural fluency. It follows the content domains as articulated in the curriculum – Numbers and Number Sense, Measurement, Geometry, Patterns and Algebra, and Statistics and Probability. The skills and processes to be developed as emphasized in the curriculum are maintained, including knowing and understanding; estimating, computing and solving; visualizing and modelling, representing and communicating, conjecturing, reasoning, proving and decision-making; and applying and connecting. The values and attitudes – accuracy, creativity, objectivity, perseverance, and productivity – should be strongly honed among learners. The use of various instructional resources, especially calculators, computers, smart phones and tablets, while ensuring its appropriate use with respect to age and grade level of the learners, are likewise encouraged. The value of Mathematics as a learning area should not be confined in the corners of a classroom or any learning space. Its application to real-life world problems should be dealt with depth and breadth that may be mirrored in classroom instruction.

-oOoThe author is Teacher III at Camba National High School